'Roller coaster' As Graham Fights Charge

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Sharks back-rower Wade Graham says the past 24 hours have been a roller coaster but he is ready to fight his grade one careless high tackle charge on Wednesday night in a bid to make his Origin debut.

Graham experienced the elation of an Origin call-up – as a direct replacement for injured Blues left-edge back-rower Boyd Cordner – after his team's Monday night win over the Cowboys before learning on Tuesday morning his Origin dream could be over before it begins with loading and carry-overs from a semi final loss against the Cowboys last year enough to push him over the points threshold to miss a game.

That game, cruelly, would be Origin II at Suncorp next Wednesday.

Speaking to media upon landing in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday morning, Graham said he would spend as much time in camp as possible before flying down to Sydney to plead his case in front of the judiciary panel.

"Obviously it's been a bit of a roller coaster the last 12 hours. Firstly getting selected and now being charged," Graham said.

"It's a bit hard to process at the moment but I've got 24 hours to get through it. I'll take a breath now that we're in camp."

His initial feeling upon learning of the charge had been disappointment.

"I'll have to go back down to Sydney now and fight it. I've been in contact already, I've been working with NSW Rugby League and obviously we're going to fight the charge. That'll be tomorrow night so I'll get back down to Sydney and see how we go.

"I haven't really looked at [the tackle on Maroons and Cowboys playmaker Johnathan Thurston] too much. I'll look at it now, probably over the next 24 hours we'll sit down and have a look at it and get our case ready and get it sorted.

"Over the next 24 hours we'll work out more information about what the process will be but I'll stay up here as long as I can and fly back to Sydney when I have to."

This article first appeared on NRL.com

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